Chris Buescher. effries was deployed
to Kuwait during peration Irai
Freedom. His name was on driver Ryan
Preeces car.
Every windshield had a name every
name had a storypunctuated during
the opening ceremonies by a soulful
Amaing Grace performed by three
bagpipers as well as a 21-gun salute,
and the playing of taps to honor the
fallen, including Lt. Gen. Timothy .
Maude, Army Ensign Sarah Mitchell,
Navy Cpl. Bobby High Steele, Marines
Capt. ohn Graiano, Air Force Sgt.
Daniel A. Desens, r., National Guard,
and many more.
Presenting the nations colors to start
the ceremonies was the United States
Honor Guard Color Team from oint
Base Anacostia-Bolling, ashington
30 THE OFFICIAL NASCAR 2020 PREVIEW & PRESS GUIDE
D.C., followed by an invocation offered
by ill Graham, grandson of the late
Rev. Billy Graham, a Charlotte native.
Let us pray, he began. Dear heavenly
Father we thank you for this wonderful
day that we honor the men and women
who lay down their lives for our country
and today we want to remember the
sacrice that they made
Helping military families has been part
NASCARs DNA, going way back.
n the Fourth of uly, 1969, the
Firecracker 400 at the Daytona
International Speedway put a national
spotlight on the Medal of Honor, the
highest military decoration given by the
United States. Its bestowed upon those
individuals who distinguish themselves
above and beyond the call of duty.
Bill France Sr. launched that tradition
which was revived more than a decade
ago. The 2019 Coke ero Sugar
400 was the 11th consecutive year
that Congressional Medal of Honor
recipients were recognied, specically,
Sgt. Major Gary Littrell Vietnam and
Staff Sgt. Ronald . Shurer Afghanistan.
Littrell, who has been inducted into the
Ranger Hall of Fame, was in Kontum
Province when he and his team found
themselves under intense mortar
attack. According to ofcial reports,
he repeatedly abandoned positions of
safety to direct artillery and air support,
despite concentrated enemy re.
Shurer, a former Army Special Forces
staff sergeant and medic serving in
Afghanistan, was involved in the Battle
of Shok Valley, also known as